Man charged over alleged coward’s punch outside Carnarvon hotel

A 43-year-old man is fighting for his life in a Perth hospital after he was allegedly punched in the head outside a Carnarvon hotel at the weekend.

Police say the man and a female friend left a licenced premises and walked along Olivia Terrace near the Carnarvon Fascine just after midnight on Saturday when a 35-year-old man aggressively confronted the pair and “threatened them both”.

“It is further alleged the charged man struck the male victim to the head causing the victim to fall and hit his head on the road,” a WA Police spokesperson said.

The injured man was rushed to Carnarvon Regional Hospital with head injuries before being flown to Royal Perth Hospital.

A Hospital spokeswoman on Monday said the man was admitted around 1am on Saturday and remained in a critical condition in the intensive care unit.

The 35-year-old man accused of the offence, Bryan Anthony McKenzie, was taken into custody by Carnarvon Detectives and appeared in Carnarvon Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Mr McKenzie was not required to enter a plea for a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm. He was remanded into custody and will reappear in the same court on August 2.

Police say an investigation into the incident is ongoing and have urged anyone who was in the area to contact Carnarvon Detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.